Decoding Australian bowlers with fifers in T20I cricket
In the second T20I of the 2024 series between England and Australia at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, visiting team's Matthew Short scripted history with a stunning five-wicket haul. According to ESPNcricinfo, with this, the off-spinner became the first full-member team player to open the batting (24 off 28) and register a fifer in T20Is. Here we decode Australian bowlers with fifers in T20Is.
Matthew Short (5/22) vs England, 2024 Cardiff
Short became the fourth Aussie with a five-wicket haul in T20Is. The off-spinner claimed figures worth 5/22 in his three overs. As per Mazher Arshad, Short became the first Australian in the history of men's international cricket to take 5 wickets as a 7th bowler. Meanwhile, this was also Short's maiden fifer in professional cricket. England chased down a record 194-run target.
Ashton Agar (6/30) vs NZ, 2021 Wellington
Ashton Agar picked up the best figures for Australia in T20Is during their third T20I in Wellington, 2021. Agar recorded figures of 6/30 off his four overs at an economy rate of 7.50. He had three scalps in the 12th over, two wickets in the 16th, and one in the 14th, restricting NZ to 144. Australia won the match by 64 runs.
Adam Zampa (5/19) vs BAN, 2021 T20 WC Dubai
Adam Zampa claimed 5/19 in his four overs, during their Group 1 match against Bangladesh in the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup in Dubai. Zampa recorded these figures with an economy rate of 4.75, including 14 dot balls and one maximum. He picked up two consecutive wickets in the 10th over, folding BA for 73. Australia won by eight wickets with 82 balls remaining.
James Faulkner (5/27), vs PAK, 2016 T20 WC Mohali
James Faulkner recorded up figures of 5/27, during their Super 10 match against Pakistan in 2021. Faulkner bowled 10 dot balls, giving away one maximum and two boundaries at an economy rate of 6.75. He picked up two consecutive scalps in the 17th and the 19th over each, restricting PAK for 172/8 in 20 overs. Australia won the match by 21 runs.
Ashton Agar (5/24), vs SA, Johannesburg 2020
Agar is the only Aussie with two fifers in T20Is. He recorded his second fifer during the first T20I against SA in 2020. He claimed 5/24 at an economy rate of six. Agar got hit for two fours and one six and bowled 12 dots, (four overs). Agar had a hat-trick in the seventh over. Australia won by 107 runs, restricting SA to 89.
